Mertz, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1909-1910 at 610 West Washington Street in Sandusky, Ohio, this two-story Classical Revival house was erected by builder George Feick for John Mertz, a successful stove and tinware merchant. It has a tall rock-faced limestone foundation, buff brick walls with sandstone sills and lintels, a wood cornice with modillions, and a slate hip roof with dormers. A broad masonry terrace with a balustrade leads to a porch carried on solid limestone Tuscan columns. Inside, the principal rooms keep their fireplaces and woodwork in mahogany, oak and yellow pine, along with a grand stairway, stained glass windows, an original bathroom, a cistern and a dumb-waiter. Feick also built the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home and many Oberlin College buildings. Compared with his wood-built houses in Sandusky's finer neighborhoods, this brick house for a merchant shows a different side of his work. It is valued locally for its architecture and its remarkably intact condition. The house now serves as offices.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of the residential work of Sandusky builder George Feick and a large, well-built Classical Revival house in the city. It stands out for its limestone-columned porch, terrace with balustrades, fine brickwork and stone trim, and an elaborate, largely unaltered interior.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92001077, listed August 21, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 610 W. Washington St., Sandusky |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | August 21, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Feick, George, Builder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historically a single dwelling; now used as commercial offices. The exterior is largely unaltered, apart from aluminum siding on the rear wing and an enclosed rear porch. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.45326, -82.71696 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92001077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6248557
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.